NH City First To Raise Tobacco Age To 21

DOVER, NH — Dover on Wednesday became the first community in the state to raise the tobacco age to 21 years old. The City Council approved the measure in a 6-1 vote Wednesday night.

"Everyone knows folks who have lost their lives to cigarette smoke," City Councilor Dennis Shanahan said. "It's the right thing to do."

The statewide tobacco age is 18. State lawmakers earlier this year considered raising the age to 21 but nothing was finalized. Massachusetts lawmakers in the spring approved raising that state's tobacco age to 21 from 18.

Maine lawmakers last year approved a hike in the tobacco age to 21. The restriction starts July 1. Hawaii, California and New Jersey also approved tobacco age hikes to 21.

Related:

• Massachusetts May Raise Tobacco Age To 21

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